//------------------------------// // 2 // Story: Fallen Queendom // by Zeroraid //------------------------------// Storm’s finally parting. Ain’t gotta be a genius or anything to know that. Just gotta look and listen to what's going on outside. Pay attention and one could hear the thunder and rain starting to part, even glimpse the lightning starting to fade out in the distance. Looks like things are gonna get back to normal for a bit. Well… as normal as things can get around here in Canterlot Castle. The Castle is routinely quiet; so much so you could practically hear the steps that echo throughout the halls, not to mention the sounds of maids cleaning the decor. The most noise one would routinely find came from the throne room as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna dealt with the court meetings amongst nobles. Beyond that, Canterlot Castle was routinely silent; today was no exception. In fact, things seemed particularly quiet today. Majestic halls filled with guards and cleaning staff stood frozen, as if they were replaced by statues. The only movement they had about them came from the faint turning of their heads as they stared in disbelief. Princess Luna simply ignored the looks being sent her way as she walked past them, letting her hooves echo out as they hit tile and left her world drenched in silence. Alicorns had a certain appeal to them. Ponies realized that a long time ago; Celestia and her niece Cadence always had this appeal about them. Princess Luna was no different, and yet, there had always been… something about her, something that set her apart from her sister and niece. Whatever ethereal allure that the alicorn princesses naturally held, it was more noticeable with the night princess. It was both captivating and intimidating at the same time; like she radiated a power more akin to someone that had learnt the secrets of Tartarus itself. Today that allure hadn’t faded - rather it was more noticeable as if she had loosened the reins on her powers, and one could only guess why. Her cloak was gone, revealing her traditionally well maintained andfine coat riddled with cuts and scrapes along with bits of mud and grime. Her ethereal mane  clung to her neck, snaking around her form like a shimmering starlit mess.  Her right wing had traces of burns across it, as did her matching ear. One  of her regalia were missing, while another was cracked. Her tail was much like her main, that starlit mess dragged behind her like a makeshift cape as it soaked the floor in rainwater. She carried her cloak in a bundle letting it float behind her as she walked on. To them - to her ponies she looked like some fabled warrior returning from some quest with her eyes shining with a calculated gaze they could only describe as a huntress on the prowl. She looked breathtaking. “Y-your highness.” A mare squeaked as Luna turned her attention to face her. “Are - are you alright?” She asked “What happened?” “We are quite fine.” Luna spoke in that commanding yet alluring tone of hers as she gave the mare a slight smile, causing her cheeks to flourish in red. “And we do apologize for the mess.” She watched as wings stoot outward - standing at attention as she walked away. She took a calming breath as she tried composing herself. It wasn’t that she was thrilled about the attention sent her way, rather it was because of how ecstatic she felt inside. It felt as if the storm that had been threatening to consume Canterlot City was now seeping into her bones. She missed this feeling; she really did. The rush of adrenaline, the sound of her heart beating in her ears. By her mother’s grace she missed it. She missed almost getting drunk on the overstimulation of her senses brought about by combat; she missed feeling the strain of her muscles overworking and the wind rushing by her as she danced over the knife’s edge. To use her magic for something more than holding papers and raising a cup of tea. She missed being more than just a pretty princess - she missed being a warrior. Feeling her breathing grow erratic, the dark blue alicorn couldn’t help licking  her lips as she tasted her own blood and smiled, unconsciously causing a few more ponies to flourish as wings stood at attention. Not that she could bring herself to care at the moment. Instead she let her thoughts continue to return to what occurred mere minutes ago. Replaying the events that had happened as her heart started to race. She knew why she felt this way; a thousand moons ago she wasn’t just a ‘pretty princess’ that sat on a throne, rather she was a warrior born in an untamed Equestria, one still rich with battles and conflicts. When she and her sister fought for the Crystal Empire, she'd led the charge against King Sombra, fighting as though the fabled Spirit of War; Ares, blood was coursing through her veins. When Discord had tried taking control of Equestria she had held him off while her sister tried finding a solution, and it appeared that the tooth she knocked out hadn't grown back yet; but to be fair they had turned him to stone shortly after. During the dark hours of an old Equestria when her dear friend Princess Platinum had been kidnapped by a cyclops, she had been her knight, breaking into the cyclops' fortress and saving her friend. Truthfully, in every book of Equestria's old history, more than half the records of glory had been brought by her hooves, not her sister. She was one of the firsts on the battlefields and the last to leave them. Growing up in those times had forged her like tempered steel, but it helped that she had an apparent talent for it. She chalked it up to her naturally adventurous nature like the fictional Daring Do. The desire to go out and explore; it was what she always did back then when her sister and Starswirl were busy reading as they traditionally did. It was how she first met Melvin the Manticore and discovered that beyond the Everfree Forest lies the land of Zebras. And while she would never tell anypony -let alone her sister, less she planned to give the mare a heart attack - it was also why she at a time took to exploring old tombs and locked dungeons. So yes, she knew exactly why A.K. Yearlings books were so popular. Dodging the traps and searching for treasure left by lost civilizations. It lit a fire in her soul and reading that mare’s grand tales reminded her so much of her earlier years. Still… Turning down a hall Luna felt her mind begin to wander, turning to thoughts that originally sent her out to Canterlot City. As much as she missed the thrill of battle, it wasn’t what had brought her ther out today. She let her thoughts return to graves, she let her thoughts return to her friends. The dying storm responded to those fading thoughts. “It is unfortunate.” The Nightmare appeared beside her, walking with her through the hallways that led towards her personal chamber. “Our time with our loved ones interrupted as they were.” She admitted. “But it was either to cut our time short or risk trampling upon their graves.” “You’re right.” Luna whispered. “Trampling graves - disturbing the dead is a sin I don’t want to carry.” She admitted. “I’m well aware, little moon.” The Nightmare stated. “Alicorn or not, there are lines that must never be crossed.” “I am… glad that you understand.” Luna muttered as she pressed on. Silence danced around the pair, whether it was invited or not though, that was a question that would go unanswered. Still With the presence of her shadow felt beside her, the Moonbearer couldn’t help but let her thoughts turn to her. Turn to what had brought the two together once more. Flashback She let the silence dance around her. Let it play on without much complaint, and only broke it for those brief moments when the sound of her regala hit fine marble floors and the silk carpets. Princess Luna of Equestria, let her attention drift from the hanging drapes to windows and toward the moonlit labyrinth that rested beyond. Everything her eyes rested on, she studied for a few moments, before her attention drifted to something else. Memories, memories preserved in stained glass kept her attention longer than one might expect. She stared at those preserved images, each one reminding her of a day - an event and trial she and her sister had been forced to experience during Equestria’s early days. Their coronation under their mother’s watchful eyes. Their first meeting and trials alongside Star Swirl the Bearded. The treaty that had been forged after the last Pony-Gryphon war. The sealing of Discord, as well as many others who wished to blanket Equestria in darkness. So many memories, some good, some bad, some favorable, some distasteful. Seeing them laid before her the nocturnal princess couldn’t help but think of those days long past. Every image she looked at seemed to come alive as she remembered what occurred those days. The same could be said for even the darkest of her memories; the birth of Nightmare Moon, and her final day in an old Equestria. Seeing the visage of her darker self, Luna couldn’t help but feel those old emotions resurface. Envy, anger, loneliness, despair… old feelings that birthed the Nightmare stirred from their slumber. Again, they whispered words of owed retribution should she embrace them. Again, they promised her power. Again, they -  “Silence.” With that single word she forced them away, back into the darkest recesses of her mind as she stared at her reflection. “It’s been over a year…” She stated. “We are free from you.” She spoke in a tone of authority as she narrowed her eyes. She half expected her doppelganger to laugh at her, step from it’s glass-like casing but only found it staring in her direction. “We are free from you, Nightmare.” Luna repeated the words but a sense of emptiness greeted her in return. “You will never be free of me Luna.” Freezing, Luna turned her head as she stepped back in surprise. Standing across from the mare was her Nightmare self. A dark yet seductive smile crossed the shadow’s face as she looked at the light of her soul. “But you know, If you want to talk to me, you needn’t speak to glass of all things.” “You…” Luna paused, disbelief on her face as she stared at her manifested darkness. “N-no this is impossible.” Nightmare Moon raised a delicate eyebrow as she looked at her smaller self. “You are gone. We felt it! Twilight Sparkle and her friends rid us of you! You can’t be here!” Laughter filled the darker alicorn’s lungs as it echoed for a moment. “Those foals? Get rid of me?” The dark alicorn smiled as she stepped to the side before approaching her counterpart, causing Luna to step back further. From fear or something else she didn’t exactly know. “My dear Luna, I am part of you, just as you are part of me.” “You’re lying… you are not part of us! You are a concentration of the Nightmare Force.” “Why would I lie?” The mare questioned. “Though you are partly correct. I *was* an aspect of that parasite, but no more.” The Nightmare declared as she stepped forward. “Remember Luna everypony has darkness in their souls, and I am yours." Stopping Nightmare Moon turned her attention to the stained glass. A hint of curiosity in her eyes as she looked at the image it presented. “So this is to be our niece I take it; Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?” Luna slowly nodded as she looked at the image of the pink alicorn. “Princess of Love, if I am correct.” “That’s right.” “She’s beautiful.” Luna blinked in surprise as she turned to her darker self. An approving look across her face that reminded her of how she would gaze at the world at times; like one would judge a cut diamond as they searched for any imperfections. Brushing her mane back, Nightmare Moon settled her gaze on the image and nodded after  a moment. “The sun princess must be proud.” It was odd Luna realized. Seeing her alter ego, appraising her niece as calmly as she was. Let alone so… calm as she was at this moment. ‘No… I won’t be tricked like this.’ Luna thought as she narrowed her eyes. Nightmare Moon was a skilled manipulator. Not on par with Discord, but she was skilled. She wanted something. “What are you doing here, Nightmare Moon? Here to cause trouble once more?” “I am here to talk.” Turning her gaze to Luna the dark alicorn gave her a playful gaze. “And to offer you my powers, just as I did all those moons ago.” “Haven’t learned your lesson I see.” Luna muttered. “Still plotting to overthrow my sister? Did failing twice teach you nothing?” “Oh I learned dear Luna; that Equestria’s greatest weapon can be negated, that by breaking the harmony of those that carry them they will be useless. ” Luna froze at that, the realization of the Elements being powerless. Nightmare Moon shared her memories, so of course she would know about the Element’s weakness. Luna had always theorized it - that the Element’s Chosen needed to be united, and for the young mares of Lady Twilight and her friends… their bond could be temporarily broken. Discord had proven that theory true. The Nightmare needed only a moment of broken trust to sink her fangs into the youths. Nightmare Moon simply smiled at her. “That weapon can be removed - whether directly or indirectly - and with it gone I can finish what we started so long ago of course…” Luna shook her head as she found Nightmare Moon behind her, hunched over a bit to whisper in her ear. “That is, if you’ll let me.” “No.” Luna stepped away from her counterpart and looked away. “I won’t let you. Even if the Elements of Harmony were unusable, I’ll never let you take over me again.” “So you say.” Nightmare Moon held a knowing smile as she returned her gaze to the image of their niece. “You haven’t spent much time with her have you? Mi Amore may not be of blood but she is family. Do you not like her?” Before Luna could speak up the mare shook her head. “No I doubt that, I would *know* if you disliked the mare.” “I have been busy, Nightmare. Shamefully so.” “Ah yes, your nightly activities. They certainly do take up a lot of time.” The shadow mused before shrugging. “But not all. For example you are not out tonight.”  She wasn’t wrong. “We are not needed tonight.” Luna admitted as she looked to the side and found her counterpart lounging around a chaotic looking cloud. “We have “the night off” as they say.” “Ah I see.” The Nightmare patted the cloud for a moment as she made some room. “Care to join me? It’s quite comfy.” All she received was a glare before Luna looked elsewhere. “Calm yourself my other half, I have not done anything to warrant such distrust.” “Haven’t you?” “No my dear, I haven’t. I am thou and thou art I. All I do is what we agree upon. But for now we are at an impasse so I’ll ask again; will you accept my power?” The Nightmare asked again as she looked at her counterpart. “You have my answer, Nightmare.” “For now, anyway.” The mare stated as Luna blinked only to find her counterpart directly in front of her and staring her down. “You’ll need it soon enough and once that day comes I shall offer it again.” “And what pray tell makes you believe that we shall accept it then?” All Nightmare Moon did was smile, leaning down as she looked her counterpart in the eyes. Feline-like pupils shrunk for a moment as she spoke. “Because you’ll need it.” Present Since that day the Nightmare - her shadow had stayed with her. Keeping her company whispering the promise of power in her ears. Strangely though the latter only occurred on one occasion or the next. She did not bring up the promise of power often, rather she focused mainly on other things, letting her thoughts drift to subjects that Luna wouldn’t have thought possible for the darkness in her soul. “I wonder who was responsible for that monster attack.” The dark half of her soul muttered as she floated atop a cloud. “You believe that beast wasn’t acting on its own accord?” “I believe it was smuggled in, how else would something like that be able to reside within our walls, and for who knows how long?” The Nightmare asked as Luna made a noise. “A fair point, and one we will no doubt have to look into.” “Privately?” Nightmare received a nod. “Of course, if word gets out that that thing was in our walls we’d have a massive panic on our hooves.” “A fair point, but you must still be cautious, nothing like that could simply sneak within our walls without somepony very high up pulling at strings.” Nightmare Moon stated as she looked at her other half. “We may have a traitor in our household.” “Perhaps, perhaps not; regardless we will act with caution.” The Nightmare smiled “*We* my other self? Does that mean you accept my power?” At that Luna turned her head and frowned. Her attention focused on her counterpart as she stopped walking for a moment. “No. I mean *we* as in the guard, my sister and myself. We shall stop whatever is coming.” Luna went silent for a moment as she continued walking. “I will not need your aid.” “That is what you believe, isn’t it?” Nightmare Moon shrugged as she resumed walking with her lighter half. “But if you want to go down the other route, you will certainly have your work cut out for you. The Equestrian Guard has not had the best track record with enemies as of late - Chrysalis has revealed that much. Peace has caused them to lose their edge.” “That much I can agree with. They will need to be retrained.” Luna paused for a moment as she started thinking back for a moment. Her branch of the guard, the Night Guard was a bit ahead in that department. Since her return she had fallen into the old habit of sparring with them in order to gauge their skills and her own. At first she hadn’t been impressed in the slightest but in time she had shaped them into a relatively decent defense force. Nothing in comparison to their past glory but something that could hold their own in a fight for a while. Granted as a side-effect she had to deal with some uncalled for rumors that claimed she still hadn’t changed and was still plotting to take over Equestria, only this time with her night guard supporting her. “Perhaps I should have my sister’s guard join us. It would be easier to train them if they are all together.” “Some mock battles won’t hurt. Give them a taste of what to expect.” “I do not see why not.” Luna whispered before looking at her counterpart. “Wait… are you… assisting us in this endeavor?” “Though it is not a land of eternal night, your Equestria is still my own.” The shadow stated as she stared down at her counterpart with her slitted eyes. “And I will protect what is mine.” Luna just stared at the dark alicorn for a moment as she narrowed her eyes. Aiming to say something, the mare was cut off as something reached her ears. "Luna!" Hearing something behind her Luna pulled to a sudden stop as she galloped. Looking behind her the Nightmare frowned as she looked at the mare trotting up to them. “Celestia…” "Sister?" Turning the little alicorn came face to face with her elder sister as Celestia's eyes widened. "Good evening, how are you fairing?" It was at a time like this that the princess of day discarded all prestige and titles as she kicked her holy ruler image out the window and across the Equestrian borders. There wasn't any need for decorum and all it entitles, her sister was a mess. Covered in mud and scrapes, her regala chipped and missing. She was a shadow of her former well maintained self - and all she had to say was good evening? Like she'd just woken up? Letting the worried sister out for the world to see, Celestia looked over her younger sister in a panic. "WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!?" Luna flinched slightly as she felt her ears ring for a moment. Luna grew up with the mare and yet it still amazed her how loud her typically soft spoken elder sister could actually get even without resorting to the Royal Canterlot Voice. "I go to your room earlier to see you but you weren't there and *this* is that how I find you?" The panicked sister continued to circle her younger sister as she started applying medical spells on her to see how badly her sister was hurt. "By Faust Luna, you broke a rib! And a hoof!" "I did?" Luna questioned as she applied her own spell and blinked. "Huh, I did." The Nightmare raised an eyebrow as she looked at her counterpart. “You truly didn’t notice that until now?” Her dark counterpart asked. “You truly must still be high on adrenaline or something.” "I did?" Celestia repeated as she pressed her muzzle in her sister's face. "That's it? What in Equestria were you doing!? Were you attacked? Was it Queen Chrysalis?" Listing off several more old enemies that were lost to history, Luna raised her hoof, her broken one and actually waved it due to some magic that she applied to realign the bones. "No-no sister, it's nothing like that." 'Kind of.' Luna secretly added as she smiled at her sister. Memories of life or death combat returned to her as she felt her heart skip a couple beats again as she tried to calm herself. There was no way she'd let her sister know she was attacked earlier by a worm… thing. She really needed to give that thing a name. That and see if anypony could dissect it to figure out what it was, maybe even add it into the regional bestiary that had been started when she was just a filly. 'Thou there is considerable doubt that the last one will actually be done… doesn't seem like the bestiary is used as often as it used to.' Luna suppressed a frown as she thought back to the corpse she had left in the plains. "Then what were you doing?" Celestia asked as she started healing her sister. "Jumping off Canterlot?" Celestia stopped as she saw her sister's expression change ever so slightly. "By Faust you were!" "Not exact~ly." 'I jumped off a building if that counts.’ Luna stumbled as she felt her body suddenly hurt. “There goes your adrenaline high…” The Nightmare muttered as she shook her head. Feeling her sister suddenly grab onto her Luna raised her hoof as if to push her away. "I - I'm alright, suddenly extremely tired that's all." Luna muttered as her sister held her regardless. "I bet you are..." Celestia murmured as she held on to her sister. Why in Equestria would her sister be jumping off Canterlot? Unless... "Luna...are you alright?" "I already told you I'm fine, dear sister." Luna rolled her eyes as she tried pushing her sister away only to find her holding her tighter. "That's not what I meant." The white alicorn whispered as Luna felt her shake a bit. It sounded like her voice was cracking. "Did you...did you...I saw the storm Luna." Celestia muttered as she shook a bit harder. "I saw it; your feelings and how they were turning. Did you...did you jump Luna?" The Nightmare blinked as he looked at the pale alicorn. “Oh my~ Does she think that…” Eyes widening Luna felt her a bit of her strength return as she pushed her sister away. Catching the older alicorn by surprise she gripped the sides of her face and brought them down. "NO!" It was a good thing that everypony had cleared out when they heard the older alicorn suddenly yell, Luna didn't want anypony to know this was what her sister was thinking; that she hit rock bottom - that she tried killing herself…again. "I didn't *jump* sister." Not in that sense anyway. "I slipped..." She lied but quickly continued afterwards. "I - I went to see them sister...I went to the cemetery." Feeling Celestia flinch, Luna inhaled as she heard one of the clouds rumble. Lying to her sister had never been easy, especially if the lie was why she'd become upset since the skies decided to express her true feelings but, decades by her counterpart’s side had taught her how to pull it off; sprinkle a bit of truth in it. "I had been trying to work up the nerve to see them for a while now and… I believed I was ready but it appears I wasn't. Seeing the stones, knowing they were really gone was harder than I thought." Pausing to collect herself a bit the younger alicorn felt her ears drop unintentionally as she kept her thoughts on her old friends. "I... went around Canterlot to try clearing my head, to calm down, but when I took to one of the buildings I lost my footing. I slipped and hurt myself." “And then you wrecked the park fighting a giant worm creature.” Nightmare Moon added with an eye roll while Luna stared at her sister’s eyes. "But I swear on the moon I carry on my back, sister, I didn't jump! I've no intention of going to the Far Fields and abandoning you." "I'm sorry." Celestia wiped her eyes as she repeated the words over and over again. She didn't mean to jump to conclusions, she really didn't but her sister wasn't upset. Then again she understood why; in the first few weeks of her return she would have considered it. Traumatized by what she had done as her Nightmare counterpart as well as hearing the whispers that danced around Equestria of her being a monster- not to mention a certain mental parasite she would never openly speak about residing in her dreams. She hadn't jumped then but her sister had been forced to rip a knife out of her grip and lodge it four-fifths of a way through the nearest wall. It took months of therapy for her to come back from that dark place in her mind. She'd recovered since then, but Celestia, behind her various masks and her age, the mare who was forced to see that hadn't. She'd almost lost her again, this time permanently. "No, I'm sorry." Luna muttered as she held her sister as the larger alicorn's wings enveloped around her. Squeezing her a bit tighter than she would have liked but she would bear it. "I never meant to make you worry. It is all my doing, not yours." She whispered before peaking out the corner of her eye to notice one of the castle's maids turning down the hall only to stop at the sight of the two. "I'm a horrible sister, all I do is make you worry." Giving the maid a glare that clearly spelled 'leave and never speak of this again' Luna watched her disappear faster than one of her teleportation spells. "You're not a horrible sister. I am." Celestia countered as she finally released her younger sibling."I was blind for decades, I made terrible decisions and you were hurt because of them." "We've both made mistakes sister." Luna admitted as she lifted a hoof and wiped a tear off her sister's face. "And we both bear scars because of it. Only those of the flesh have faded faster than the ones we carry in our hearts." An almost sage like voice left the smaller alicorn as she smiled. "I think we both just need some more time to heal." Slowly Celestia nodded as she took a moment to recompose herself at least attempt to. It was funny Luna thought that at the moment she was acting as though she was the elder of the two, consolidating her sibling because they were hurting inside. "I think you should get some rest, sister, you look exhausted." "Me? What about you?" Celestia quietly commented as Luna looked herself over. Right, she looked like she needed a doctor, and maybe a bath too. "I should make sure you get to a doctor." "I'll be fine, my chambers are right there after all." Luna admitted as she looked behind her. "I keep medical gauze in my room and alongside a few healing spells I should be fine after a rest." Nodding Luna started applying a healing spell to her broken limb as she winced slightly from the pain. "Are you sure?" Dismissing the worried look on her face Luna smiled at her sister as she made a habit of waving her hoof. "Of course. Mere scratches won't be enough to end me. I am not some dangly mare that is so easily bested." An almost cocky look left the typically calm and calculated mare as she waved her sister off. "Now go on, we both need our rest." Watching her sister yawn Luna repressed the urge to follow suit. What was it about being around somepony that was tired that was so infectious? Or maybe that was just her since all the extra energy she had finally burning out. She didn't care, it beat the alternative. "I guess you're right. But I'll need to wake up in a few hours. I still have a few more meetings to get to." "Just cancel them." Luna muttered a bit harsher than she intended to. "They are not newborns, we mustn't hold their hooves the entire time. Equestria can manage itself for a few hours without falling apart." She shook her head as she turned back to her room and grabbed her bundled cloak. "Sister, you cuddle them too much." Despite her words Celestia smiled as she covered her mouth for another yawn. "Pleasant dreams sister." "Pleasant dreams Luna." Remaining where she stood, Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes as she looked at the pale alicorn slowly walking away. “You’re too kind to her.” “You shut up.” Canterlot City Park “Well, this place is a wreck.” The cloaked mare thought as she stepped into the park and looked at the damage done. “Nice work though, I haven’t seen a place this wrecked since my last barfight.” The mare muttered as she smiled lightly. “I wonder how Titan’s bar is still recovering.” She stated as she walked up to the beast she had called forward and ran a hoof over its face. It’s parts were scattered, it’s bones were broken, and it had lost what remained of its life long ago. “Huh, Luna stole your heart.” The mare stated as she frowned. “And to think you gave your heart to me.” Turning her direction towards Canterlot Castle she continued to pat her beast's head before breathing. ‘Still that said… you did quite well today; Princess.' She thought as she looked back to her fallen beast and started humming to it. ‘But I still got what I needed.’ “How did it go?” From behind her, her cloaked counterpart just tilted his head as she glanced back at him. “I got it.” She muttered as pressed her hoof deeper into the creature's skin as it started to deteriorate. Breaking into a number of vapors she watched as it started to condense into a small jewel. “One sphere of condensed Alicorn magic.” “Good.” Her counterpart states as his counterpart looks at him. “Do you think this will be enough?” “If not, I have a bit of extra magic to offer up.” The stallion stated as he reached under his cloak and pulled out an amulet of sorts. “The Alicorn Amulet?” The mare blinked in surprise. “How the bloody hell did you get your hooves on that? Did you break into the Princesses Treasure trove or something?” “Actually it was sitting in a shop, not too far from here.” The stallion shook his head in humor. “A disgrace really, a powerful magic artifact, just sitting in a shop. What has this world come to?” “Hard to say really.” The mare admits. “Still will that be enough? To break the seal, I mean.” “The seal was forged by the power of two alicorns of old.” The stallion stated. “And the power of two alicorns can break it.” He ran his fingers over the amulet. “Ah~ so they didn’t just call it the Alicorn Amulet on a whim?” “Oh course not.” The stallion started with a smile. “But the story of the Amulet is for another day. “We have what we desired.” And now we should return to Celestia’s Seal.” “That’s a long trip.” The mare stated as she tossed the sphere of condensed magic in the air.  “We better get moving.” She whistled and the sky seemed to darken above them. Her counterpart just looked up and chuckled as a new beast landed before them. “Well well, this beast will certainly make the trip much shorter.” He states as he looks to his counterpart. “Why didn’t you call him when we were coming to Canterlot?” The mare just smiled. “I have my reasons.” She made a gesture in the rain, a mock bow of sorts as she gestured to her winged beast. “Now… shall we return?” “But of course.” Her counterpart admitted. “We have a seal to break.”